Paper clutter is often one of the hardest types of clutter to sift through because it’s a blend of practical items you hold onto “just in case” (like receipts, bills, and bank statements) and sentimental things that you might feel slightly guilty about getting rid of (such as birthday cards, photos, and ticket stubs). Plus, it’s often spread out in piles across your home (think: a junk drawer, the entryway, or a closet).

I’ve lived in my apartment for six years, have had my fair share of roommates, and cook at home often, so trust that I’ve accumulated a lot of spices. I use what I can and toss anything that’s truly old, but I still have quite a collection that needs organizing in my kitchen cabinets.Even my two wall-mounted spice racks can’t contain it all!

When I lived in a studio apartment, anything I brought into my home had to have a really good reason to be there — whether it was a shoe rack that doubled as an entryway table, a storage bed that allowed me to store luggage underneath it or extra bedding in the two drawers it had, or even something as simple as vacuum bags that allowed me to minimize the amount of space off-season items took so I could free up more room for other things.